Wire cutting and gripping device



July 11, 1967 M. F. BAKKE WIRE CUTTING AND GRIPPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1964 INVENTOR. M1 my 5 626K;

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July 11, 1967 M. F. BAKKE WIRE CUTTING AND GRIFFIN-G DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet f? Filed July 10, 1964 INVENTOR. 44. $4M:

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United States Patent 3,330,308 WIRE CUTTING AND GRIPPIN G DEVICE Melvin F. Bakke, Franklin, Wis., assignor to Lincoln Tool and Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed July 10, 1964, Ser. No. 381,735 9 Claims. (Cl. 140-104) The invention relates generally to wire cutting and gripping devices. More particularly, the invention relates to wire cutting and gripping devices, such as the type which are mountable on coil winding machines, as, for example, stator winding machines.

The invention provides a wire eye or hook, which is adapted to hook a wire so as to form a loop partially therearound and which is mounted on a base for linear and pivotal movement relative to the base, together with a cutting edge which is fixed on the base in the path of movement of the hook. Formation of a wire loop or tap is obtained by hooking of the wire by the hook and displacing the looped wire. Severance of the wire forming the loop is provided in response to passage of the hook past the cutting edge. Gripping engagement of the Wire is obtained by pressure engagement of the Wire between the hook and a resiliently mounted pressure plate or member in response to passage of the hook past the cutting edge.

The invention also provides a mounting for the hook, which mounting includes a guideway on the base and a slide or carriage movable on the guideway between a retracted position associated with the wire cutting and gripping functions and an extended position associated with the wire hooking function. The hook mounting also includes a member or element which carries the hook and is pivotally connected to the slide in eccentric relation to the guideway. Linear movement of the slide and pivotal movement of the hook-carrying element are provided by applying a force to the hook-carrying element in opposing directions generally arallel to the linear path of the slide. Slide movement is delayed until after pivotal hook movement, so as to afford wire hooking action by the employment of friction means between the slide and the guideway. In this manner, as there is relatively little re sistance to pivotal movement, such movement takes place before the linear or translatory movement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a Wire cutting and holding device embodying various features of the invention, the device being shown in its retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing the device in its extended position;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken away side elevation view of the device as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the base shown in FIG. 1.

The wire cutting device 11 shown in the drawings includes a base 13, which is adapted by reason of mounting holes 15 to be adjustably located on the mounting plate 17 of a fragmentarily-shown winding machine 19. (See FIG. 1.) The winding machine 19 includes a guide hole 21, through which passes a wire 23 which is to be wound into coils and which is to be hooked, formed into a loop including two lengths or taps of wire, and severed with one of the taps being releasably held.

After completion of a winding, device 11 is operable 3,330,308 Patented July 11, 1967 to extend itself, to hook the wire extending from the guide hole 21 to the completed winding, to draw the wire into a loop or tap, to then sever the wire, and to simultaneously releasably hold or grip the severed end of the wire extending from the guide hole 21 to afford subsequent wire hooking by a winding head (not shown) during the initiation of a subsequent coil winding operation. Releasable gripping of the wire end also serves to releasably anchor the wire, so as to facilitate the subsequent coil winding operation.

Carried by the base 13 is a hook or eye 25, which can be integrally formed with or attached to an element or member 27, which can take various forms. In the disclosed construction, the element 27 is in the form of a bell crank lever having a leg 29 serving to support the hook 25. The bell crank element 27 is carried for pivotal movement by a pin 33 supported on a carriage or slide 35. In turn, slide 35 is mounted for linear travel, rectilinear travel in the disclosed embodiment, by a guideway or guide means in the form of an elongated T-shaped bar 37 fixed to the base 13 and received in a mating recess 39 in the slide 35. Various other forms of guideways can be used.

Various means can be employed to limit travel of the slide 35' along the guideway. In the disclosed construction, movement of the slide relative to the base 13 is limited by means of dowel stop 41, which extends from the base in position for engagement with the slide to establish its retracted position as shown in FIG. 1, and a second dowel stop 43, which projects from the T-shaped bar 37 and is receivable in a notch 45 in the slide 35 to establish the extended position of the slide.

Various means can be used to limit pivotal movement of the hook-carrying element 27 relative to the slide 35. In the disclosed construction, pivotal movement of the hook-carrying bell crank element 27 relative to the slide 35 is limited to travel between a closed hook position shown in FIG. 1 and an open hook position shown in FIG. 2, by suitable stops in the form of a pair of dowels 47-49 carried by the slide 35.

Various means or arrangements can be employed to pivot the bell crank element 27 relative to the slide 35 and to displace the slide 35 along the guideway 37. In the specifically disclosed construction, such means is in the form of a fluid cylinder 51, including a piston (not shown) and a connecting rod 55 pivotally joined at 56 to the other leg of the bell crank element 27. Fluid cylinder 51 is mounted (see FIG. 3) on a frame 57, which is suitably supported on the base 13 for pivotal movement relative thereto by pivot means 59.

Movement of the piston in the cylinder 51 results in the application to the bell crank member 27 of force having a major component directed along the path of slide travel.

In order to facilitate hooking of the wire 23, piston movement from either of its extreme positions is effected to rotate or pivot hook 25 before displacing the slide 35. This operation is afforded by building into the device a greater resistance to slide movement than to pivotal bell crank movement. Thus, in the disclosed construction (see FIG. 1), a pair of friction buttons 61 are carried by slide 35 in engagement with T-shaped bar 37.

By reason of the construction explained above, when the piston begins to move from the right to the left, as shown in the drawings, the book 25 is pivoted from its closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, to its open position, releasing the previously gripped wire. Continued movement of the piston from right to left displaces the slide 35 to its extended position, shown in FIG. 2, the hook 25 remaining in its open position and passing the wire 23 extending from the guide hole 21. Subsequent movement of the piston from left to right, as shown in the drawings, causes hook 25 to pivot to its closed position, thereby hooking the wire. Continued piston movement to the right causes movement of the slide 35 toward its retracted position, thereby partially looping the wire 23 around the hook 25, and forming an extended loop including the previously mentioned pair of taps. As the slide 35 approaches its retracted position, the wire severing and gripping functions occur.

In this latter regard, the wire cutting means includes, in the disclosed construction, and in addition to the hook 25 and the means for displacing the hook to the right as seen in the drawings, a cuttingedge 71 (see especially FIG. 4) formed at the top of a cutoff block 73, detachably mounted on the base 13. As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the. cutting edge 71 is located trans versely at an angle to the direction of hook movement and is positioned relative to the path of hook travel so that the lower surface 75 of hook 25, as shown in FIG. 4, passes immediately adjacent to the cutting edge 71, causing severance of the wire. 7

Means are provided to retain the hook lower surface 75 in adjacent relation to the cutting edge 71 during the cutting operation. Various means can be employed. In the disclosed construction, such means is in the form of a blade guide 77 (see especially FIG. which is mounted on the cutting block 73 and together with the cutting block defines a recess or guideway 79. Cooperating with the recess 79 is a guidepart or lip 81 on the outer edge of the hook 25, which lip is received in the recess 79 to stabilize the hook 25 before cutting action takes place.

While various wire gripping arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction this means includes, in addition to the hook 25 and the means for displacing of the wire during the looping and tap drawing operations.

Means are also provided forsevering the wire at selective distances from the guide hole, so as to provide for wire taps or leads of differing lengths. In this regard, the base 13 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, duplicate provisions for mounting the cutoff block 73, the pressure plate 83, and

' the stop dowel 41.

If desired, the disclosed construction can be modified to provide for tap pulling without effecting the severance and gripping functions.

What is claimed is: V

1. A wire cutting device comprising a base, a slide, means mounting said slide for travel along a predetermined path between retracted and extended positions, an eye adapted for hooking a loop of wire partially therearound, means on said slide supporting said eye for pivotal movement between first and second position relative to said slide, a cutting edge supported by said base in spaced sitions, an eye adapted for hooking a loop of wire par-.

tially therearound, means on said slide supporting said eye for pivotal movement between first and second positions relative to said slide, a cutting edge supported by the hook, a pressure plate or anchor block 83, and means 7 pressure plate 83 comprises an elongated member 85 which includes, at one end, a rounded boss which is engageable with the upper surface of the cutoff block 73. The resilient pressure plate supporting means comprises a stud or screw 87 including an upper end which is fixed to the pressure plate 83 adjacent to the end thereof closest to the cutting edge 71 and which is resiliently biased to a position in predetermined, spaced relation above the upper surface of the cutoff block 73 by an amount slightly less than or approximately the same as the thickness of the hook 25. Such resilient spacing is provided by afixed stud 86 depending from the pressure plate 83 for engage- 'ment with the cutting block 73 and a compression spring 89 confined between a head 91 at the lower end of the stud 89 and a seat 93 in a cavity 95 in the cutting block 73. In the absence of the hooking eye 25 between the pressure plate 83 and the cutting block 73, the stud 86 serves to limit movement of the pressure plate 83.toward the cutting block 73 under the influence of the spring 89.

It is also to be noted that the upper part of surface segment 97 of the hook part which is located for initial engagement with the pressure plate 83 is convexly curved to cammingly displace the pressure plate 83 upwardly against the action of the compression spring, thereby assuring a sutficient amount of wire anchoring pressure. Accordingly, when the wire 23 is severed by the cutting edge 71, the wire end extending from the guide hole .21 of the winding machine 19 is simultaneously releasably gripped. Initial movement of the piston to the left in the drawings serves to pivot the hook 23 to its open position while the slide is still retracted, thereby releasing the previously gripped wire.

The substantial thickness of the eye 25 in the direction between the cutting block 73 and the anchor block 83, together with the rounded surface which includes the surface segment 97, serves to prevent unduly sharp bending said base in spaced relation from said slide mounting means and in position for travel thereby of said eye during movement of said slide from said extended to said retracted positions to sever a loop of wire hooked around said eye, means connected to said eye for applying force thereto generally in the direction of said guideway, and means operable between said slide and said guideway to effect, in response to the application of force generally in the direction of said guideway, initial rotation of said hooking eye between said two positions and subsequent displacement of said slide along said path.

3. A wire cutting device comprising a base, a slide, a guideway on said base mounting said slide for travel along a predetermined path between retracted and extended pos tions, an eye adapted for hooking a loop of wire partially therearound, said eye having a guide part, means on said slide supporting said eye for pivotal movement 7 between first and second positions relative to said slide, a cutting edge supported by said base in spaced relation from said slide mounting means and in position for travel thereby of said eye during movement of said slide from said extended to said retracted positions to sever a loop of wire hooked around said eye, means supported by said base for engagement with said guide part of said eye to stabilize movement of said eye past said cutting edge,

means connected to said eye for applying force thereto generally in the direction of said guideway, and friction means operable between said slide and said guideway to effect, in response to the application of force generally in the direction of said guideway, initial rotation of said hooking eye between said two positions and subsequent displacement of said slide along said path.

4. A wire cutting and gripping device comprising a base, an eye adapted for hooking a loop of wire partially means urging said plate against the severed end of the Wire loop located between said eye and said plate.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said eye includes a camming surface around which said loop is disposed, said surface being located to cammingly displace said plate away from said cutting edge during the entrance of said edge between said plate and said cutting edge.

6. A Wire cutting device comprising a base, a slide, a guideway on aid base mounting said slide for travel along a predetermined path between retracted and extended positions, an eye adapted for hooking a loop of wire partially therearound, said eye having a guide part, means on said slide supporting said eye for pivotal movement between first and second positions relative to said slide, a cutting edge supported by said base in spaced relation from said slide mounting means and in position for travel thereby of said eye during movement of said slide from said extended to said retracted positions to sever a loop of wire hooked around said eye, means supported by said base for engagement with said guide part of said eye to stabilize movement of said eye past aid cutting edge, means connected to said eye for applying force thereto generally in the direction of said guideway, a plate, and means on said base mounting said plate in a position in spaced relation to said cutting edge for receipt therebetween of said eye, said plate mounting means including resilient means urging said plate against the severed end of the wire loop located between said eye and said plate.

7. In a wire cutting and gripping device, the combination of a base, a slide, a guideway on said base mounting said slide for travel along a predetermined path between retracted and extended positions, an eye adapted for hooking a loop of wire partially therearound, means on said slide supporting said eye for pivotal movement between first and second positions relative to said slide, means connected to said eye for applying force thereto generally in the direction of said guideway, and friction means operable between said slide and said guideway to efiect, in response to the application of force generally in the direction of said guideway, initial rotation of said hooking eye between said two positions and subsequent displacement of said slide along said path.

8. A wire cuttin and gripping device comprising a base, an eye adapted for hooking a loop of wire partially therearound, means mounting said eye on said base for linear movement along said base between two positions and for pivotal movement relative to said base, means for effecting movement of said eye, wire cutting means including said eye, said means for effecting movement of said eye, and a cutting edge on said base in position for movement thereby of said eye to eflect severance of a wire loop on said eye, and wire gripping means including said eye, said means for effecting movement of said eye, a pressure plate, and means biasing said pressure plate toward said eye to releasably grip therebetween one of the severed ends of the Wire loop.

9. A wire cutting and gripping device comprising a base, a rectilinear guideway on said base, a cutting block fixed to said base and having a cutting edge spaced laterally from and transversely of said guideway, a wire holding block on said base, resilient means mounting said holding block in a position spaced from said cutting edge, a slide movably carried by said guideway, a wire hooking element having a wire engaging eye, means mounting said hooking element on said slide, and means connected to said hooking element, for exerting a force on said hooking element along a path extending in the general direction of said guideway for displacing said slide along said guideway for movement of said eye past said cutting edge and between said cutting edge and said holding block so as to sever said wire and to grip one of the severed ends of the wire.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 507,642 10/ 1893 Allen -73 1,400,937 12/1921 Bull 140-73 2,674,414 4/1954 Hicks et al 83-566 3,002,259 10/1961 Fletcher et a1. 29-l55.5 3,191,269 6/1965 Moore 29155.53

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. E. M. COMBS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WIRE CUTTING DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE, A SLIDE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SLIDE FOR TRAVEL ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH BETWEEN RETRACTED AND EXTENDED POSITIONS, AN EYE ADAPTED FOR HOOKING A LOOP OF WIRE PARTIALLY THEREAROUND, MEANS ON SAID SLIDE SUPPORTING SAID EYE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, RELATIVE TO SAID SLIDE, CUTTING EDGE SUPPORTED BY SAID BASE IN SPACED RELATION FROM SAID SLIDE MOUNTING MEANS AND IN POSITION FOR TRAVEL THEREBY OF SAID EYE DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE FROM SAID EXTENDED TO SAID RETRACTED POSITIONS TO SEVER A LOOP OF WIRE HOOKED AROUND SAID EYE, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID EYE FOR ROTATING SAID HOOKING EYE BETWEEN SAID TWO POSITIONS AND FOR DISPLACING SAID SLIDE ALONG SAID PATH. 